Volume IV
The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy.
With John Brown’s marginal references, notes and reflections · Vol. IV, p. 437
Descended from a Jewish mother and grandmother, Timothy had been very early instructed by them in the knowledge of the Old Testament. By the ministration of Paul at Lystra he was converted to the Christian faith, and remarkably enriched with the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost, Ac. xvi. Having circumcised him, that the Jews might take no offence at him on account of his father being a Greek, Paul took him to be his companion, under the character of an evangelist. And having left him at Ephesus to rectify and establish the complete order of the church there, he sent him this and the subsequent epistle, to fix upon his mind the instructions which he had formerly given him, and enable him to communicate the same to others. In them the apostle testifies his affection, warns him of danger, and directs him in his personal and ministerial conduct.—The second was written from Rome, perhaps several years after the first.
[The date of this epistle is supposed to be about A.D. 64, soon after the apostle's imprisonment at Rome. It contains references to the following passages in the Old Testament:—Ge. 45. 10, 11; De. 19. 15; 32. 39; Ezr. 6. 10; Is. 1. 15; 14. 12; Je. 29. 7; Eze. 33. 9; Mal. 1. 11. C.]